JanetteH

Finally - it happened - the scale moved after nearly 4 weeks of being "stuck" - so I'm on track with most people too - 62 pounds in 4 months. I'm lucky that it's summer and I can swim every day (we have a pool) but I agree that some form of exercise is important for me. I really sympathize with you, Claire. Before I had my knees replaced, I was so limited in what I could do. Hope the gym or recumbent bike works out.
I went to a wedding this weekend and saw lots of people for the first time in several years. Some kept saying how well I looked - I'm still overweight so they didn't realize why - but clearly those dropped pounds have improved my overall health

Isn't it amazing! I tried to lift a 60 lb bag of charcoal into my car - thought it was too heavy and asked my husband to help me. I used to carry 66 lbs more around with me all the time Congratulations Ginger Snaps - keep it up!

Isn't it amazing! I tried to lift a 60 lb bag of charcoal into my car - thought it was too heavy and asked my husband to help me. I used to carry 66 lbs more around with me all the time Congratulations Ginger Snaps - keep it up!

As much as I love losing weight I am also very sad to see a few of my clothing to go. I spent lots of time finding them and lots of money buying them, and I have quite a few pieces that I really really like. So this makes me a bit sad. Most likely I will not have much money to replace them so I will have to be satisfied with some budget solution such as second hand ect.
I just took 4 of my favorite dresses to the tailor and had them taken in - they look great (for $20 each) - won't have to buy "in between" sizes this summer - hopefully I'll be in a much smaller size by next year. I've also discovered I now fit some old clothes that were too small.

I'm just at around 3 months now and I've lost 54 lbs - all post-op. Be aware that those numbers vary from person to person and please don't set your goals too high - that's just asking for a disappointment. Some people have lost more than me and I also stalled for 10 days although I was still eating correctly - but I'm so happy - I've lost an average of 4 lbs a week since surgery and I never did that before in my life! Good luck.

Hi Latido - congrats on getting your surgery. Try to relax - you're doing fine. We all have weird body sensations while we're healing. I too had the pain in the chest / the need to burp or hiccup sensation when I was full. It takes several weeks to heal physically and in addition our brains need to learn how to respond to our new physical structure.
I totally agree with Wayne - small sips every few minutes is the answer. You will not rupture with Water From my experience, the worst that can happen is you will "overflow" - it's not really throwing up - just a mouthful comes back up because the pouch is full. So keep on sipping - you're doing great!

Hi Latido - congrats on getting your surgery. Try to relax - you're doing fine. We all have weird body sensations while we're healing. I too had the pain in the chest / the need to burp or hiccup sensation when I was full. It takes several weeks to heal physically and in addition our brains need to learn how to respond to our new physical structure.
I totally agree with Wayne - small sips every few minutes is the answer. You will not rupture with Water From my experience, the worst that can happen is you will "overflow" - it's not really throwing up - just a mouthful comes back up because the pouch is full. So keep on sipping - you're doing great!

I just discovered the silver lining! I "only" lost 2 lbs this week - but I'm so happy! After being stalled for 4 weeks, a steady 2 lbs a week will be wonderful

I will be keeping busy with making my house crystal clean (or not. They've known me for 25 yrs and the way I keep house so they can shut up or go home), making 'meals' for my husband and I for after surgery (very daunting. don't even know where to start or what to do yet. ::sigh: and taking all of my anxiety pills. Hi KarenLee
Aren't relatives wonderful! After having my mother come to "help" when I had my first child, I had to ban her for the second!! I agree with Oweemytoe - just let your mother-in-law clean - she's going to do it anyway - we're addicted to food & she's addicted to cleaning.
Maybe she cooks too? Then you don't have to worry about your husband's meals after surgery. Another idea - I just doubled some of our favorite recipes the week before surgery and then froze 2 portions of each in individual containers. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they have some really good frozen food (flatbreads, kung pao chicken, enchiladas etc)
Good luck - it will all be worth it!

I liked MetRx Protein Plus (chocolate) - available at Trader Joe's and The Vitamin Shop.

29 lbs in 5 weeks is amazing!! - that's about 6 lbs a week - when did you ever lose weight that quickly before? I'm only averaging around 4 lbs a week and I'm delighted with that. Think positive - this surgery is a tool, not a magic bullet. Depending on your starting weight and goals, it may take close to a year to lose all the weight.
Don't get down on yourself - counting calories is not my main goal anymore. If I eat the correct quantity (no more than 1 cup at my stage) of the right foods (protein, fruits and veggies), then the calories take care of themselves. I use a tracking app called MyFitnessPal which I love. You might want to start using that - it has an amazing data base of lots of foods so it can tell you how much protein, fat, carbs etc you've consumed.
What phase are you in? (pureed food, soft foods?) I also got tired of the Protein Shakes but found I love scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and fish (all mashed in the puree phase). Talk to your nutritionist about ideas and recipes etc
Good luck!

Hi Oweemytoe - that's quite a list!
1. hair loss - possible but not inevitable - I'm 4 months out, have continued to dye my hair and no loss yet. Eat your Protein - it helps a lot.
2. Lovenox - I didn't need that for gastric bypass so we all don't have to be on blood thinners!
3. Gas - definitely
4. Catheter - didn't have one!
5. Complications - possible but I didn't have any.
6. Support - use this forum - we've all been there and we're all here for you. My advise - don't tell everyone - only a few people that you know will be supportive.
7. Dehydration - as Crosby said "sip, sip, sip"
8. Stomach problems - the old stomach will be thoroughly checked before it's separated. From then on the new "pouch" is your stomach - the old one never sees food again
9. Dumping syndrome - do exactly what your doc says and you won't have many worries. I haven't had it.
10. Loose skin - probably inevitable. I have "wings" and will probably have surgery to remove my "apron" when I reach goal.
I understand your concerns but think of all the positives - not all of these things will happen to you.

Hi Faye - do not fear - it happens to many of us. I've been stuck at the same weight for 3 weeks also. It's because we're eating so few calories - our bodies have gone into "starvation mode" because it thinks we're having a famine in the land I have decided to stop weighing myself for the next 2 weeks, to write down all my non-weight related benefits as I notice them (e.g. my diabetes is nearly resolved) and to up my exercise to 40 minutes a day walking or swimming. I know it's very depressing but don't give up. Just keep eating mostly Protein, fruit and veggies - maybe go for a walk when you're down, and know that this won't last forever

Hi Faye - do not fear - it happens to many of us. I've been stuck at the same weight for 3 weeks also. It's because we're eating so few calories - our bodies have gone into "starvation mode" because it thinks we're having a famine in the land I have decided to stop weighing myself for the next 2 weeks, to write down all my non-weight related benefits as I notice them (e.g. my diabetes is nearly resolved) and to up my exercise to 40 minutes a day walking or swimming. I know it's very depressing but don't give up. Just keep eating mostly Protein, fruit and veggies - maybe go for a walk when you're down, and know that this won't last forever

Yes I have a snack every afternoon and evening - my favorites are yoghurt, fresh fruit, hummus with vegetables and almonds (found some vanilla flavored ones!) Be careful though - I'm 4 months out and I couldn't have fruit, raw vegetables or nuts for the first 3 months. Early on yoghurt is good, mashed banana, sugar-free pudding, canned fruit pureed or mashed, apple sauce etc - don't know what stage you're at. My doc told me to have 5-6 small meals a day (3 "meals" and 2 or 3 "snacks") and to eat a small amount every 2-3 hours so I think Snacks are important.

Yes I have a snack every afternoon and evening - my favorites are yoghurt, fresh fruit, hummus with vegetables and almonds (found some vanilla flavored ones!) Be careful though - I'm 4 months out and I couldn't have fruit, raw vegetables or nuts for the first 3 months. Early on yoghurt is good, mashed banana, sugar-free pudding, canned fruit pureed or mashed, apple sauce etc - don't know what stage you're at. My doc told me to have 5-6 small meals a day (3 "meals" and 2 or 3 "snacks") and to eat a small amount every 2-3 hours so I think Snacks are important.

Hi Janice,
I haven't heard about that problem. I take another anti-depressant and have not had that side effect. Please do NOT stop taking Lexapro on your own - you might have serious side effects. Talk to your surgeon or Primary Care Physician before taking any action. For other reasons, I am being weaned off my drug slowly by my PCP - and I mean slowly - half every day for several weeks and then half every other day etc. Never stop taking a drug without a doctor's supervision.

29 lbs in 5 weeks is amazing!! - that's about 6 lbs a week - when did you ever lose weight that quickly before? I'm only averaging around 4 lbs a week and I'm delighted with that. Think positive - this surgery is a tool, not a magic bullet. Depending on your starting weight and goals, it may take close to a year to lose all the weight.
Don't get down on yourself - counting calories is not my main goal anymore. If I eat the correct quantity (no more than 1 cup at my stage) of the right foods (protein, fruits and veggies), then the calories take care of themselves. I use a tracking app called MyFitnessPal which I love. You might want to start using that - it has an amazing data base of lots of foods so it can tell you how much protein, fat, carbs etc you've consumed.
What phase are you in? (pureed food, soft foods?) I also got tired of the Protein Shakes but found I love scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and fish (all mashed in the puree phase). Talk to your nutritionist about ideas and recipes etc
Good luck!

My standard answer is "Oh it'll be about a year until I'm eating normally again - but I'm feeling great, thank you" I don't offer any details. That shuts them up (hopefully for a year!)

Don't compare your idea of pureed food before surgery to what your experience will be after surgery. After 2 weeks of liquids & Protein Shakes, soft scrambled egg and watery mashed potatoes never tasted so good!!

The only thing I slightly grieved, very early in the process, was giving up binge eating. Knowing I'd never have the crutch of eating my way into a food coma like I did before. Of course that was the entire purpose of the surgery, but it is still a loss and awareness that the old habit must die.
Other than that few moments of sadness? I miss nothing.
Oh, except knee pain, back pain, sleep apnea, sky high blood pressure, foot pain, sweating whenever I exerted myself, not fitting in the bathtub, embarrassment wherever I went, seatbelt extenders on air planes, eating in secret, several daily prescription meds, etc. I miss those SO much. NOT!

Hi Beth Ann,
There is not another person that can know your journey except YOU! Even those of us who are also experiencing our own RNY journey, are having different experiences. The great thing about this site is that you might find somebody who is experiencing the same thing you are. But no two of us will experience the same journey. We are all different.
In my experience, people who make insensitive comments, normally do so for two reasons, ignorance or jealously. Your very small friend, may just not realize what she said is hurtful. If she is important enough to you, talk to her and explain why what she said was hurtful. You can't change what you don't know. Others feel uncomfortable with your weight loss, not because you have lost weight, but because it makes them more aware of the poor food and exercise choices that they are making. This is a much harder group to address, and in my experience, these are just people I have limited my exposure to. I am certainly not going back to old habits to make them more comfortable!
As to your 'slow' weight loss, YOU HAVE MET YOUR DOCTOR'S GOAL IN A YEAR! That is AWSOME!! I am sure your doctor has had weight loss goals for you in the past. Have you EVER met them - in one year or ten? I know I haven't. You have done amazing! You should be congratulating yourself on your new life and focusing on improving the areas you still think you need to. The journey is never truly done. The only way we grow is to work on ourselves in some way. That is called LIVING!
Enjoy,
Carol

My list of pureed foods says in large letters "Absolutely No Baby Food" - don't know what the problem with it is. I have a mini food processor which makes things a lot easier - worth the $25 investment? (I used it all the time before for chopping garlic, ginger etc). A few things that don't need processing or are easy to mash with a fork - tuna, cottage cheese, egg salad, ricotta, cooked soft white fish (e.g. catfish or tilapia), apple sauce and banana.
Janette

Thanks ladies for your support...I'll keep on truckin' and inching along. Y'all are wonderful, sincere and kind. Nobody but us can understand what we've been through and will continue to go through. Thanks goodness we have each other and the whole WLS community to turn to in times like these. It's made a huge difference in my mood already just reading your responces...and for that, i'm very greatful

Do any of you feel like you always have to defend what you are doing and feel like people are just watching your every move to see what you put in your mouth....This is the part i hate the most about others knowing I had RNY.
Hi BethAnn,
Congratulations on reaching your surgeon's goal! Who cares how long it took you - you persevered and you did it!! I'm only 3 months out so I haven't reached even the halfway point yet.
Yes I have "friends" who watch everything I eat. One in particular (who is only 105 pounds and probably anorexic) asks me what I'm eating every time we go out - even if it's just for coffee!! (a skinny latte). It's starting to drive me nuts and I regret telling her. But then I felt that people were watching what I ate before - because I was so fat. I just have to roll with the punches and enjoy my weight loss.